San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Darwin Ceren (17) slides the ball away from Houston Dynamo forward Mauro Manotas (19) during the second half of the game at BBVA Compass Stadium Saturday, April 22, 2017, in

Houston Dynamo forward Andrew Wenger (11) wins the header while San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Darwin Ceren (17) and Houston Dynamo midfielder Oscar Garcia (27) are around him during the second half of the

Darwin Ceren is back where it all began for him in MLS. Luckily for the midfielder, the Dynamo are far and away better than they were when he faced them in 2015 at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Then one of the league’s newest international signings with Orlando City SC, Ceren played 90 minutes against the Owen Coyle-coached Dynamo on March 13, 2015. Coyle’s era was just beginning, but it never gained momentum.

A little more than one year later, Coyle was out. The listless season that was 2016 quietly played out after that.

Ceren is a significant part of why the Dynamo believe they’ll continue to improve under coach Wilmer Cabrera, who last season lifted the club out of its worst nadir.

The Dynamo acquired Ceren from the San Jose Earthquakes on Friday in exchange for $175,000 in allocation money. It is expected he will vie for playing time in the defensive midfield. He said he especially likes the idea that he’s highly likely to get a chance to prove himself within Cabrera’s system.

“It’s a consistent team that knows how to rotate players,” Ceren said Tuesday after the first training session of 2018. “They have good internal competition due to their rotation system, which forces every player to be eager to play at his best. We are going to be fighting for a spot.”

Ceren featured 42 times for Orlando City during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Orlando City traded him to San Jose in 2016 and played 28 times for the Earthquakes before they traded him to the Dynamo last week.

In 75 career MLS games, Ceren has two goals and six assists. He is known for his tenacity and hustle. If he pairs with Juan David Cabezas in the line ahead of the defenders, he could give the Dynamo one of the best ball-winning duos in the league.

Ceren also is a veteran within the El Salvador national team. He has 41 caps since 2012 and occasionally has served as captain. He will be a big draw for the Salvadoran fan base in Houston.

“I am motivated by joining a new team, a team that succeeded last year and that is challenged to improve from last year,” he said. “I am prepared, and I am positive. I know that there are going to be a lot of Salvadorans that will be here supporting us, so that makes me feel at home from day one. I feel a lot of responsibility and I am calm because I know that this season will be different from last.”